A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the Joint legislative study committee on the consolidation of early childhood education and care as recommended by the task force on the consolidation of early childhood education and care.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Committee Established. – There is created the Joint Legislative Study Committee on the Consolidation of Early Childhood Education and Care. The Committee shall consist of 10 members to be appointed as follows:
(1)	Five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2)	Five members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the same appointing authority making the initial appointment.
The Committee, while in the discharge of its official duties, may exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120‑19 and G.S. 120‑19.1 through G.S. 120‑19.4. The Committee may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Committee may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. The Committee may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120‑32.02.
The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. The House of Representatives and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Committee, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee. Members of the Committee shall receive subsistence and travel expenses at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate.
SECTION 2.  Duties. – The Committee shall continue the work of the Task Force on the Consolidation of Early Childhood Education and Care created under S.L. 2009‑451 by continuing to work toward the development of an integrated system of early childhood education and care. To that end, the Committee may consult with and receive reports from the appropriate State departments, agencies, and board representatives on issues related to early childhood education and care and consider any other issues the Committee deems relevant.
SECTION 3.  Report. – The Committee shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations to the 2011 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The Committee shall terminate on December 31, 2010.
SECTION 4.  Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law.